Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALHEZEK’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALHEZEK’, particularly characterized by large, white flowers with greenish-yellow and white lips, a flat flower shape in lateral view, strongly raised calluses, long whiskers, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALHEZEK’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of the Orchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘PHALHEZEK’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. The objective of this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant with attractive, large, white flowers with greenish-yellow and white lips, suitable for potted plant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALHEZEK’ is a result of cross-pollination made by the inventor in November 2010 in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, of the proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘6541-01’ (unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘01-1988’ (unpatented).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, in September 2013. Asexual reproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culture since 2015 in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, has demonstrated that the new variety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations.

Community Plant Variety Rights for this variety have been applied for in the European Union on Aug. 30, 2019 (Application no. 2019/2067), by Applicant who obtained the subject matter disclosed directly from the inventor. ‘PHALHEZEK’ has not been made publicly available or sold anywhere in the world prior to the effective filing date of this application with the exception of sales or disclosures made one year or less before the effective filing date of this claimed invention by Applicant who obtained ‘PHALHEZEK’ directly from the inventor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normal horticultural practices in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, and can be used to distinguish PHALHEZEK' as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant:

-   -   1) Large, white flowers with greenish-yellow and white lips;     -   2) Flower shape in lateral view is flat;     -   3) Callus is strongly raised; and     -   4) Whiskers are long.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms and foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. The photographs were taken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands, from 50-week-old plants in December 2020. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description, which accurately describe the actual colors of the new variety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms and foliage of ‘PHALHEZEK’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALHEZEK’.

FIG. 3 shows an overhead view of the leaves of ‘PHALHEZEK’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘PHALHEZEK’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype. The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under 4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Observations and measurements were made in December 2020 on flowering plants which were planted in 12-centimeter (diameter) pots. After in vitro propagation, the plants were grown in nursery trays for 20-24 weeks, followed by transplantation to 12-centimeter pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to 29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between 18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C. Flowering occurs after 50 weeks in 12-centimeter pots.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.         -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.         -   Common name.—Moth orchid.         -   Variety name.—‘PHALHEZEK’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘6541-01’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-1988’ (unpatented). -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture. -   Roots:     -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green (a color in between RHS 190B             and 190C) colored roots with branching lateral roots having             greenish-yellow (RHS 151A) with a touch of purplish-red (RHS             N77B) colored root tips. -   Plant:     -   -   Crop time to flowering.—Following asexual propagation (in             vitro), the rooted cuttings grow for 20-24 weeks. After             transplantation into 12-cm pots, the plants are finished             after 48 to 50 weeks.         -   Growth habit of the peduncle.—Upright to slightly pendent             with raceme inflorescence.         -   Height (from soil level to top of             inflorescence).—Approximately 60.0 cm to 65.0 cm.         -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 35.0 cm to 37.0 cm.         -   Vigor.—Strong. -   Leaves:     -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 7 to 8 leaves are             produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 19.0 cm             to 22.0 cm. Width: 7.5 cm to 8.5 cm. Position of the             broadest part of the leaf: Toward the tip. Shape: Obovate.             Base shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.             Leaf blade angle with the petiole (measured from the             horizontal position): Between 10 degrees and 30 degrees.             Leaf margin: Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower             surface: RHS 147B. Texture (both upper and lower surfaces):             Smooth. Thickness: 2.6 mm to 2.8 mm. Variegation: Absent.             Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper             surface: RHS 146A. Lower surface: RHS 146B. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 2.         -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—8 to 11.         -   Length.—60.0 cm to 65.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—6.0 mm to 7.0 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Upright to slightly pendent.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—Mix of brown (RHS N200A) and yellow-green (RHS 146B).         -   Internode length.—4.0 cm to 5.0 cm. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendent, raceme             inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open             in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.         -   Number of inflorescences.—1 to 2.         -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 230.0 mm to             260.0 mm.         -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11             months after planting in a 12-cm pot.         -   Flower.—Height: 90.0 mm to 95.0 mm. Diameter: 100.0 mm to             105.0 mm. Depth of lip: 25.0 mm to 27.0 mm.         -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 18 to 20 weeks.         -   Flower shape.—Flat.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Flower bud.—Average size: Large. Length: 24.0 mm to 26.0 mm.             Width: 20.0 mm to 22.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped. Color: Touch             of yellow-green (RHS N144D) at the base with a touch of             purplish-red (RHS N77B).         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:             Rounded to slightly emarginated asymmetric. Margin: Weakly             undulated. Length (from base to tip): 49.0 mm to 51.0 mm.             Width: 66.0 mm to 68.0 mm. Position of the broadest part of             the petal: Toward the base. Color (when fully opened): Upper             surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C). Over color:             Absent. Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C). Over             color: Absent. Number of spots and stripes on the petals             (upper surface): None. Color of spots and stripes on the             petals (upper surface): Not applicable. Density of netting             of the petals (upper surface): None. Color of the netting             (upper surface): Not applicable.         -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Broad elliptic. Apex: Emarginated             symmetric. Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 54.0             mm to 56.0 mm. Width: 40.0 mm to 42.0 mm. Position of the             broadest part of the dorsal sepals: Toward the base. Color             (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS             NN155C). Over color: Absent. Lower surface: Basic color:             White (RHS NN155C). Over color: Touch of very light purple             (RHS 76B). Number of spots and stripes on the dorsal sepals             (upper surface): None. Color of spots and stripes on the             dorsal sepals (upper surface): Not applicable. Density of             netting of the dorsal sepals (upper surface): None. Color of             the netting: Not applicable.         -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.             Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 51.0 mm to             53.0 mm. Width: 32.0 mm to 34.0 mm. Position of the broadest             part of the lateral sepals: Toward the base. Color (when             fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS             NN155C). Over color: Touch of light yellow-green (RHS 145C)             at the base. Lower surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C).             Over color: Light yellow-green (RHS 145D); very light purple             (RHS 76B) toward the tip. Number of spots and stripes on the             lateral sepals (upper surface): None. Color of spots and             stripes on the lateral sepals (upper surface): Not             applicable. Density of netting of the lateral sepals (upper             surface): None. Color of the netting (upper surface): Not             applicable.         -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 32.0             mm to 34.0 mm. Color of whiskers: White (RHS NN155C) with             yellow tips (RHS 7A). Pubescence on the lip: Absent.         -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Type V (as described in the             International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of             Plants (UPOV) Test Guidelines for Phalaenopsis); spatulate.             Margin: Undulated (widely wavy). Length: 22.0 mm to 24.0 mm.             Width: 7.0 mm to 9.0 mm. Color: Upper surface: Striped (RHS             N170A and 175A) at the base; greenish-yellow (a color in             between RHS 4A and 151B) on one side toward margin; white             (RHS NN155C) toward the other margin and tip. Lower surface:             Greenish-yellow (a color in between RHS 4A and 151B). and             white (RHS NN155C) toward the other margin and tip. Number             of spots and stripes on the lateral lobe: Few. Color of             spots and stripes on the lateral lobe: RHS N170A and 175A.             Density of netting of the lateral lobe: None. Color of the             netting: Not applicable.         -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Trullate. Margin: Entire. Length: 22.0             mm to 24.0 mm. Width: 26.0 mm to 28.0 mm. Color: Upper             surface: Orange-yellow margin (RHS 17A) and greenish-yellow             (a color in between RHS 4A and 151B) at the base; white (RHS             NN155C) toward whiskers; greenish-yellow midvein (RHS 4A).             Lower surface: Orange-yellow margin (RHS 17A) and             greenish-yellow (a color in between RHS 4A and 151B) at the             base; white (RHS NN155C) toward whiskers. Number of spots             and stripes on the apical lobe: None. Color of spots and             stripes on the apical lobe: Not applicable. Density of             netting of the apical lobe: None. Color of the netting: Not             applicable.         -   Callus.—Average size: Large. Height: 8.0 mm to 9.0 mm.             Length: 6.0 mm to 7.0 mm. Width: 4.0 mm to 5.0 mm. Color:             Light greenish-yellow (RHS 4B) on sides; yellow tips (RHS             13A); spotted (RHS 175A). -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Column.—Length: 8.0 mm to 10.0 mm. Diameter: 4.9 mm to             5.2 mm. Color: White (RHS NN155C).         -   Pollinia.—Quantity: 2. Diameter: 0.9 mm to 1.1 mm. Color:             Orange (RHS 25A).         -   Ovary.—Length: 12.0 mm to 14.0 mm. Diameter: 2.3 mm to 2.6             mm.         -   Pedicel.—Length: 37.0 mm to 39.0 mm. Diameter: 2.7 mm to             3.0 mm. Texture: Smooth. Color: Hint of yellow-green (RHS             144B) at the base; light yellow-green (RHS 144D) and very             light purple (RHS 76C) toward the flower. -   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or     susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to     Phalaenopsis to date. -   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on     plants of the new Phalaenopsis to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND MOST SIMILAR VARIETIES

‘PHALHEZEK’ differs from the female parent plant ‘6541-01’ (unpatented), in that ‘PHALHEZEK’ has a larger lip depth than ‘6541-01’.

‘PHALHEZEK’ differs from the male parent plant ‘01-1988’ (unpatented) in that ‘PHALHEZEK’ has moderately elongated leaf bases, whereas ‘01-1988’ has very elongated leaf bases. Additionally, ‘PHALHEZEK’ has longer whiskers and smaller flowers than ‘01-1988’.

‘PHALHEZEK’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named ‘PHALFOWIC’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 29,245), ‘PHALFUBNE’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,395), and ‘PHALGILAQ’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 31,480). ‘PHALHEZEK’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALFOWIC’ in that ‘PHALHEZEK’ has a medium curvature of the lateral lobe, whereas ‘PHALFOWIC’ has a strong curvature of the lateral lobe. Additionally, ‘PHALHEZEK’ has longer whiskers than ‘PHALFOWIC’.

‘PHALHEZEK’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALFUBNE’ in that ‘PHALHEZEK’ has smaller flowers and longer whiskers than ‘PHALFUBNE’.

‘PHALHEZEK’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALGILAQ’ in that ‘PHALHEZEK’ has medium curvature of the lateral lobe, a flat flower shape in lateral view, and emarginated dorsal sepal apexes, whereas ‘PHALGILAQ’ has weak curvature of the lateral lobe, a concave flower shape in lateral view, and obtuse dorsal sepal apexes. Additionally, ‘PHALHEZEK’ has longer whiskers than ‘PHALGILAQ’. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named ‘PHALHEZEK’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 